NIL
Major NIL Announcement Made on Friday After Tennessee-Iamaleava Situation
The broader NIL upheaval was sparked locally when Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava’s camp reportedly sought to renegotiate his $2.4 million deal to roughly $4 million, leading to a public standoff, his exit to the transfer portal, and subsequent NCAA inquiries into Vols’ NIL practices. This drama dominated every college football media outlet, and analysts called […]
The broader NIL upheaval was sparked locally when Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava’s camp reportedly sought to renegotiate his $2.4 million deal to roughly $4 million, leading to a public standoff, his exit to the transfer portal, and subsequent NCAA inquiries into Vols’ NIL practices.
This drama dominated every college football media outlet, and analysts called for increased oversight. Now, with this huge announcement, things might finally change.
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Nick Shultz of On3 wrote in a report published Friday that, “After meeting with former Alabama coach Nick Saban this week, President Donald Trump is considering an executive order “that could increase scrutiny” of NIL payments and the future of college athletics, the Wall Street Journal reported. Saban introduced Trump ahead of Thursday’s commencement address in Tuscaloosa.”
President Donald Trump shakes hands with legendary Alabama football coach Nick Saban before delivering a special commencement address to University of Alabama graduates at Coleman Coliseum © Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
On Friday, the NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors conditionally approved a sweeping House v. NCAA settlement that, pending final court sign-off, would permit schools to pay up to $20.5 million in direct revenue‐share benefits to athletes and eliminate scholarship limits in favor of roster limits, changes set to take effect this summer.
Simultaneously, President Donald Trump, fresh from meeting former Alabama coach Nick Saban Thursday night, is reportedly considering an executive order “to regulate NIL deals” and create “national legislation” to standardize athlete compensation, an intervention urged by Saban.
According to WSJ journalists Josh Dawsey, Rachel Bachman and Laine Higgins, Saban told Trump the current patchwork of state laws has created an uneven playing field and urged “national legislation” or guidelines to protect the NCAA from litigation.
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Trump “agreed with Saban and would look at crafting an executive order,” instructing aides to begin studying possible provisions, per people familiar with the meeting.
Related: Paul Finebaum ‘Worried’ About Historic College Football Program